I will be graduating in May but plan to take the summer off to travel. I hope to move to New York in Aug/Sept WITH a job in PR or editorial work (I am an English major with experience in both fields). I will be back in the U.S. by mid-late July but feel pressured to start my job search now. Is it pointless to send my resume out this early? I’m worried that I will not be seriously considered as a candidate until it draws closer to my move to New York. Do I set up interviews this spring or wait until I get back from abroad? Any advice?
Ed2010™
Reality Check
Sorry to be the one to have to do this but… I graduated LAST May, traveled for a bit and thought I would be moving to NYC in August with a job. HAHA. It doesn’t work like that. The job search process to break into this industry is extremely harrowing and nine months later, I’m still looking. I don’t want to break your spirit, but it’s just not as easy as you think.
To answer your question though: yes, it is too early to be sending resumes. Magazines have about a two week turn-around because they’re always on deadline. A position does not open unless the person in that position currently has either been promoted, has left or has been fired. Only a few of these positions are entry-level, ones you would be qualified for and when they open they need to be filled immediately. So my point is, don’t apply to jobs until you could potentially start next Monday. For now, I would work on making contacts with people in the biz, so you can network with these people once you begin your job search.
Don’t think interning once you’re out of school is above you either. The hard truth is that editors hire who they know and who their fellow editors recommend. You need to meet people, network, and realize you probably won’t be moving to New York in August.